Syria Kurds say ‘new phase’ begins in fight against IS

Omar Oil Field (Syria) (AFP) – The defeat of the Islamic State group’s territorial “caliphate” begins a new phase in operations against the jihadists which will target sleeper cells, the top Syrian Kurdish commander said Saturday.

“We announce to the world public opinion the beginning of a new phase in the fight against terrorists,” said Mazloum Kobane, the overall commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces.

Speaking at a ceremony in eastern Syria following the announcement that the last IS bastion had fallen to his forces, he called for continued assistance from a US-led coalition.

Mazloum said that the focus of upcoming military operations in the jihadists’ former heartland would be the elimination of sleeper cells “which are a great threat to our region and the whole world.”